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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a similar 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.

Here is the complete message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can anticipate more updates as development advances.