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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes 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 Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"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 game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can look forward to further news as production advances.