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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or supported systems, but fans can anticipate more updates as production progresses.