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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

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

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire content from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game lacks an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production advances.