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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as development continues.