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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but fans can expect more updates as production continues.