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

Management Transition Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.