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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"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 game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an official launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation continues.