2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After some time of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation advances.
