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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"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 description states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production continues.