The Gaming Giant Hires Popular Battle Royale Producer to Revitalize Troubled Action Game Project Ethos

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

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

Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"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 description reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as development continues.