🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as production advances.