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

Management Shift Follows Poor Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

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

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production continues.