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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire text from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. Following several months of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement 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. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can look forward to more updates as development progresses.