2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full text from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as creation continues.
