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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on 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 the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the development of the game in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect additional details as development continues.