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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production advances.