🔗 Share this article

2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After 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' lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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 real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.