The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer direction.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete text from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration 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 demo was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as development continues.