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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman 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 this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production continues.