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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 developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full text from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as production progresses.