The Gaming Giant Recruits Apex Legends Producer to Boost Struggling Hero Shooter Project Ethos

2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After some time of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or consoles, but players can expect more updates as development advances.