The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Response
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as production continues.
