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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production continues.