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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head 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 unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development continues.