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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all eager to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement 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 game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation continues.