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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

The game does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can expect more updates as creation continues.