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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, 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 necessity for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to heart and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution 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 description explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as production continues.