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

Management Change Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.

The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of the game in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title 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 real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as creation advances.