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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the months to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as production continues.