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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope 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 crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.

His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

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

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but players can expect further news as development advances.