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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.

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

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to further news as production progresses.