2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Comes After Poor Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
David
Background of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but players can look forward to additional details as production advances.
