2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Reception
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.
The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the full content from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
His management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience 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 real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can expect further news as production continues.
