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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as creation advances.