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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

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

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of the game in the months to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation progresses.