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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Face the competition with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect further news as development continues.