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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader 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 employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as production continues.