2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Reception
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter 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 reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect further news as production advances.
