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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes 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' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation advances.