The Gaming Giant Hires Apex Legends Producer to Boost Troubled Hero Shooter Project Ethos

2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer direction.

The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of the game in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. Then, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official release date or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as creation advances.