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

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game lacks an official launch window or consoles, but players can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.