2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer direction.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire message from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, he starts with us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but players can expect more updates as production continues.
