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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position 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 disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of the game in the time to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an announced launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as production progresses.