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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production continues.