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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

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, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting 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 fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as development progresses.