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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the full content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development advances.