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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the title 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! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development advances.