🔗 Share this article

2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as development continues.