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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 action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

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 title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate further news as creation continues.