🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as development advances.