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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe 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 eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as development advances.