The Gaming Giant Hires Apex Legends Developer to Boost Struggling Hero Shooter Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"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 official summary states. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation progresses.