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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward 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 fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as development progresses.