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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development continues.