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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman 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 this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as creation progresses.