2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Poor Reception
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.
Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.
His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as creation continues.
