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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development continues.