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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as development progresses.