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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation continues.