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

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire content from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

The game lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development progresses.