2K Recruits Apex Legends Lead to Boost Struggling Hero Shooter Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. Following several months of talks, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the development of the game in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an official launch window or platforms, but players can expect further news as creation continues.