2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined direction.
Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of the game in the time to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward 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 suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is yours."
The game has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as production continues.
