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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the full content from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, 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 adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development continues.