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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following some time of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development advances.