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

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as development progresses.