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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the full content from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue observing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

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

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution 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 match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation continues.