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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - 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 crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

His management and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production advances.