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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter 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 game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate further news as production continues.