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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After a period of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of the game in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.