2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Response
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined direction.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete text from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After a period of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.
His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of the game in the time to come.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective 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! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
The game lacks an announced release date or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as creation progresses.
