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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting 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 explains. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your team can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as creation continues.