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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.

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

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation progresses.