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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

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

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as creation advances.