2K Games 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 over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of the game in the weeks to come.
The President
Background of the New Head
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production progresses.
