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

Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your team can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.