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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."

"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 official summary explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can expect more updates as development advances.