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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can expect further news as development continues.