2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of the game in the months to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that change every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
The game does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development progresses.
