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

Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as development continues.