The Gaming Giant Brings Onboard Apex Legends Producer to Rescue Troubled Action Game Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution 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 game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development continues.