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

Management Change Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can expect additional details as creation progresses.