🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as production continues.