🔗 Share this article 2K Brings Onboard Popular Battle Royale Developer to Rescue Struggling Hero Shooter Ambitious Title The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game. Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn. On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction. The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands. A Pattern of Strategic Hires This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber. Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo: Team— I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.” Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that. The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct vision. The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience. Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week. Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends. Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow. David Experience of the New Head The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders. Game Information and Concept Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling 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 description explains. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours." The game does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as creation advances.