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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the recent years developing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but players can expect additional details as production continues.