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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as production continues.