🔗 Share this article

2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production continues.