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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Director of the team. After some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as development continues.