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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"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 reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as development progresses.