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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct vision.

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

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience 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 live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation progresses.