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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete content from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as production continues.