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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or consoles, but players can expect further news as development advances.