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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect additional details as creation progresses.