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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

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

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can expect further news as creation advances.