2K Hires Popular Battle Royale Developer to Rescue Struggling Hero Shooter Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but players can expect more updates as creation advances.