2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Mixed Response
The new appointee steps into the leadership position 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 lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.
The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
His leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."
"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 explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect further news as production continues.
