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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

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 unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game does not have an official launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate further news as production continues.