The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined direction.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
The game does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can expect additional details as creation advances.
