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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all eager to persist seeing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as development continues.