The Gaming Giant Recruits Apex Legends Developer to Rescue Challenged Hero Shooter Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Response

The new appointee assumes 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 initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After a period of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development progresses.