🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or platforms, but players can expect more updates as production advances.