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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 Follows Poor Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development advances.