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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

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

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or consoles, but fans can expect more updates as production continues.