2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.
The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution 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 match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
The game lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as production progresses.
