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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 developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer direction.

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

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After several months of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as production progresses.