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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 forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

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 lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation continues.