2K Hires Apex Legends Developer to Boost Troubled Action Game Ambitious Title

2K Games 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 forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward 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 suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as production progresses.