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

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the development of the game in the time to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person 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. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production continues.