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

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following a period of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as production advances.