The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar move 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 announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of the game in the months to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person 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! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
The game does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can anticipate further news as production continues.
