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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.