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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement 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 game's pitch explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can expect further news as development continues.