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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to further news as creation advances.