2K Hires Apex Legends Developer to Boost Struggling Action Game Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as creation continues.