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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but fans can anticipate additional details as development advances.