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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 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! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as production advances.