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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. 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 dedicated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to additional details as production progresses.