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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct 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.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

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 enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution 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 game's pitch explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as production advances.