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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

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

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development advances.