🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed 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 action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on 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 Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

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

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.