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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

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

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as production continues.