2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head 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 fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."
"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 description explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as development continues.
