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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following some time of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or consoles, but players can expect further news as creation continues.