The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Poor Response
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.
The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Below is the entire content from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as creation advances.
