The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Mixed Response
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation progresses.
