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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on next week.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an official release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate more updates as production progresses.