2K Hires Apex Legends Developer to Boost Troubled Hero Shooter Project Ethos

2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer direction.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the full message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"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 game's pitch states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as production continues.