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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee 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 initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After some time of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation advances.