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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into 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 Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows 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 development group.

Below is the entire content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to continue observing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that change every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but fans can expect further news as creation progresses.