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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as production advances.