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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game does not have an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation advances.