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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.