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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game lacks an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation progresses.