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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

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 the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

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 their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.