2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman steps into the leadership position 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 disappointing unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire message from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
His management and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement 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 states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as creation continues.
