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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but players can look forward to further news as development progresses.