2K Recruits Apex Legends Producer to Revitalize Troubled Action Game Project Ethos

2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position 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 disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production progresses.