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

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message 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 positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."

"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 states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as development advances.