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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

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

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined game identity.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as development advances.