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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer 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 Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of the game in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"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 reads. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development progresses.