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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development progresses.