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

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as development advances.