🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full content from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"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. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect further news as production continues.