🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete text from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production continues.