🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee 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 Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire message from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"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 official summary states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as creation continues.