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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but players can expect further news as development advances.