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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation advances.