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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After several months of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development continues.