2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
The news echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Below is the full content from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Director of the team. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.
His management and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked 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 Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development advances.
