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

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete text from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but players can look forward to more updates as development continues.