2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Response
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer game identity.
The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter 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 accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.
The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward 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 official summary reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation progresses.
