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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer direction.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full message from the president's announcement:

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 shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect further news as creation progresses.