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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward 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 suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as creation advances.