2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Reception
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your team can secure victory? The choice is yours."
The game does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.
