2K Brings Onboard Apex Legends Lead to Boost Struggling Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person 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! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or platforms, but players can expect additional details as development continues.