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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined game identity.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation advances.