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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect further news as development continues.