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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete content from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can look forward to further news as creation advances.