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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes 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 fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After some time of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to keep seeing the progress of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production continues.