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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development advances.