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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

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

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development continues.