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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production progresses.