2K Hires Popular Battle Royale Developer to Rescue Challenged Action Game Project Ethos

2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development continues.