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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After several months of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative 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 match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can expect additional details as production continues.