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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 working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation continues.