2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution 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 match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."
The game lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation advances.
