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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee takes on 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' underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation continues.