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

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

The game does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production continues.