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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an announced release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to further news as creation continues.