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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the months to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as creation progresses.