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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."

"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. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

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