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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing 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 former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement 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 fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate further news as creation advances.