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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

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

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as production progresses.