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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead 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 Poor Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation advances.