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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared 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 pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of the game in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but players can expect more updates as development progresses.