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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee steps into 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 the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

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

Below is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all eager to keep witnessing the development of the game in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward 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. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development advances.