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

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially 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 told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of the game in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but players can anticipate further news as development continues.