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

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. After some time of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as production progresses.