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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete text from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The belief in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution 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 official summary reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development progresses.