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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative 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 fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation advances.