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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or consoles, but players can look forward to more updates as development progresses.