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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire content from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling 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 game's pitch reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as creation advances.