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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to keep seeing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution 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 reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development advances.