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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer 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 Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. 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 persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement 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 fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can look forward to further news as creation progresses.