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

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm 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 reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but fans can anticipate further news as creation continues.