The Gaming Giant Recruits Apex Legends Lead to Rescue Challenged Action Game Project Ethos

2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

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

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement 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 reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game lacks an official launch window or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as creation continues.