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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

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

Below is the entire message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all eager to continue observing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation continues.