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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Mixed 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 the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as development continues.