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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.