The Gaming Giant Recruits Popular Battle Royale Lead to Boost Troubled Hero Shooter Project Ethos

2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

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

Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as development continues.