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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer 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 Mixed Response

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

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer direction.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Face the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to additional details as production continues.