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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the full text from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game lacks an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation progresses.