2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire message from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative 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 match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as production advances.
