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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

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

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete content from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"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 states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as development advances.