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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. After some time of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union 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! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation continues.