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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as development continues.