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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Face the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can anticipate more updates as creation advances.