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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following some time of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a early access event. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can anticipate further news as creation progresses.