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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback

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 reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire message from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as development continues.