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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation advances.