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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

The game does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production continues.