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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

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

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but players can anticipate further news as creation advances.