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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following a period of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the development of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as production advances.