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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the full message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development advances.