2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire message from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. Following a period of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production progresses.
