The Gaming Giant Recruits Apex Legends Lead to Boost Challenged Hero Shooter Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as development continues.