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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production continues.