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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as production continues.