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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After some time of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 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! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but players can look forward to additional details as development progresses.