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

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback

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 reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"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 description states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can look forward to further news as production advances.