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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.