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

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following a period of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier 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.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

The game does not have an announced release date or consoles, but players can look forward to more updates as production continues.