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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio 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 assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can expect further news as creation advances.