2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Below is the full message from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as creation continues.
