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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into 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 disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but players can look forward to more updates as production continues.