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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 working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

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

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.

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

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as development advances.