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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure 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 a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can anticipate further news as development progresses.