2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined direction.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our players.
The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the time to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as development advances.
