2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.
The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Hires
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe 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 excited for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as development advances.
