🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development advances.