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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.

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

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"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 official summary states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as production progresses.