The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer direction.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the full text from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as creation continues.
