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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After several months of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production continues.