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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he starts with us on next week.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the development of the game in the time to come.

The President

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 previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as production progresses.