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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

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

Below is the full text from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he starts with us on next week.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation continues.