The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Reception
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of the game in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
The game does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect further news as production continues.
