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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation advances.