2K Hires Popular Battle Royale Producer to Revitalize Challenged Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union 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 David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."

"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 competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production advances.