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

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

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 Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 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. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that change every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an official launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate further news as production progresses.