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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 crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.