The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman takes on 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 disappointing early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire message from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling 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 match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as development continues.
