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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to persist observing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to more updates as production continues.