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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

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

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as production advances.