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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio 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 autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer direction.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement 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 suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as production advances.