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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into 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' disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as development advances.