The Gaming Giant Recruits Popular Battle Royale Developer to Boost Troubled Action Game Ambitious Title

2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

The game does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can expect more updates as development continues.