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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire content from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as creation continues.