The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire content from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After some time of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as development advances.
