2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Response
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer direction.
The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete message from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate further news as production advances.
