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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or consoles, but players can expect more updates as development continues.