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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 developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production continues.