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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback

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 removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire text from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production advances.