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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 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 real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation continues.