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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After several months of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation advances.