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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Poor Response

Brinkman assumes 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 underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as production progresses.