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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from the president's announcement:

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 message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development continues.