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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

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

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

The game lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production continues.