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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct vision.

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

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire text from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling 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 suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as development continues.