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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as production advances.