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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct game identity.

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

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development continues.