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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into 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 the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development progresses.