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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.