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2K Games has secured 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

The new appointee takes on 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 the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer direction.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After several months of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an official release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.