The Gaming Giant Brings Onboard Apex Legends Producer to Rescue Troubled Hero Shooter Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the progress of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed 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! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game lacks an official release date or consoles, but players can expect more updates as production advances.