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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to additional details as development continues.