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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"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 official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development advances.