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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into 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 Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of the game in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development advances.