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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as development advances.