2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Comes After Mixed Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.
His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to come.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production continues.
