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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 working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as development continues.