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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 crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development continues.