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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.