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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but players can expect more updates as creation continues.