2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Reception
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined game identity.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up 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 team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
His management and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Face the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development continues.
