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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

The news follows 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 entire message from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all eager to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production continues.