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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into 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' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as creation advances.