2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.
The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete content from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title 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 live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can expect more updates as creation progresses.
