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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman 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 the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of the game in the months to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

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

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as creation continues.