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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, risks, and tests that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but fans can anticipate more updates as development continues.