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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.

The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.