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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Response

The new appointee takes on 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 the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire text from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as development advances.