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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct vision.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news follows a similar action 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:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

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

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as creation progresses.