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

Management Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the development of the game in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate more updates as production continues.