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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer 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 this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just completed 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 believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. After a period of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as development continues.