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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman steps into 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 Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer direction.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After several months of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or platforms, but players can expect additional details as production progresses.