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

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer identity.

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

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate further news as creation continues.