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

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. 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 innovative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."

"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 states. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as creation progresses.