🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation progresses.