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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

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

Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production continues.