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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

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

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as development continues.