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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After several months of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"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 game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development continues.