2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Reception
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire content from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. After a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience 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 description reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can anticipate more updates as production advances.
