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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

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

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Director of the team. After several months of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production advances.