2K Recruits Apex Legends Lead to Revitalize Challenged Action Game Project Ethos

2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"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 reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production continues.