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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution 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 game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production continues.