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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes 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' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an announced release date or consoles, but players can anticipate further news as creation continues.