The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct vision.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.
