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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head 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 disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full message from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development continues.