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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series 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 evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement 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. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as production continues.