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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.