The Gaming Giant Hires Popular Battle Royale Developer to Boost Challenged Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. 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 continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as production advances.