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

Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to continue observing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation advances.