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

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can expect further news as production continues.