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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

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

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

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 diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"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 game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your team can secure victory? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation advances.