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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect further news as development progresses.