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

Management Shift Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators 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 past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can expect more updates as development progresses.