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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind 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 incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."

"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 states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to further news as production advances.