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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development continues.