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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as production progresses.