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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 crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

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

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development progresses.