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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head 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' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After several months of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation advances.