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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement 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 match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can expect additional details as production continues.