🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"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 explains. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation advances.