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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production progresses.