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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete text from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as development continues.