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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire message from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"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 game's pitch explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as creation continues.