2K Recruits Popular Battle Royale Lead to Rescue Troubled Action Game Ambitious Title

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire content from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as development progresses.