2K Recruits Apex Legends Lead to Rescue Challenged Hero Shooter Project Ethos

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as production advances.