The Gaming Giant Hires Apex Legends Producer to Rescue Challenged Hero Shooter Project Ethos

2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the development of the game in the time to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game does not have an announced launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.