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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 working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the development of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Face the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.