The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined vision.
The president noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the full message from the president's announcement:
Dear 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 shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of the game in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as production continues.
