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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."

"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 description explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation continues.