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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar step 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.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

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 affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio 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 assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation continues.