The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer vision.
The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as production progresses.
