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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire text from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as production continues.