The Gaming Giant Brings Onboard Apex Legends Developer to Boost Troubled Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 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 in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 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! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as production progresses.