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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.

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

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward 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 states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production advances.