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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

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

Below is the complete text from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following some time of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward 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 suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation advances.