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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as development advances.