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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.

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

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production continues.