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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as production continues.