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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development continues.