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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 crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation progresses.