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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback

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

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

The game lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but players can expect additional details as development progresses.