The Gaming Giant Recruits Popular Battle Royale Developer to Revitalize Challenged Hero Shooter Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Reception

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

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

The game lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to further news as production continues.