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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the full message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."

"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 description explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production advances.