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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined game identity.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue observing the development of the game in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement 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 suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or platforms, but fans can anticipate further news as development progresses.