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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head 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 unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as production advances.