🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire text from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."

"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 states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production continues.