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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to persist observing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation continues.