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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as creation progresses.