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

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an official launch window or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as production continues.