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

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as development continues.