🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person 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 real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as creation advances.