The Gaming Giant Brings Onboard Popular Battle Royale Developer to Rescue Challenged Action Game Ambitious Title

The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person 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 real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation advances.