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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production continues.