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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Response

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

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game lacks an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development advances.