The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct direction.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full text from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of the game in the weeks to come.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation continues.
