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

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. 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 relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the time to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"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 game's pitch explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can expect further news as production continues.