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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation progresses.