2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of the game in the months to come.
David
Background of the New Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer 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 assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate additional details as production advances.
