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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into 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 the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"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 description reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an official release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to further news as production progresses.