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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After some time of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as production continues.