2K Brings Onboard Apex Legends Lead to Boost Struggling Hero Shooter Project Ethos

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

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep observing the development of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect further news as development continues.