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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee 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 Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of the game in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as production continues.