🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"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 description reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.