2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Follows Mixed Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution 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 match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
The game does not have an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development advances.
