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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development advances.