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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. 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 creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but fans can expect additional details as development continues.