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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"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 official summary states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but players can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.