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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit 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 updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"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 game's pitch explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production progresses.