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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct vision.

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

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter 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 suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as production continues.