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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full text from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented 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 fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

The game lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as development advances.