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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as production continues.