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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer 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 Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist observing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as production advances.