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 working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.
The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement 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 fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production progresses.
