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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development continues.