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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games 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 announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game does not have an announced release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as development continues.