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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as development progresses.