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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation continues.