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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - 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 believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as production advances.