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

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After several months of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the style."

"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 description reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production continues.