2K Recruits Popular Battle Royale Producer to Boost Struggling Action Game Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

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

Below is the full text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.

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

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can anticipate further news as production progresses.