2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire text from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our players.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.
