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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation progresses.