2K Brings Onboard Apex Legends Lead to Boost Struggling Action Game Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed 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! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development continues.