🔗 Share this article

2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the competition with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production progresses.