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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

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

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but fans can anticipate additional details as development advances.