2K Hires Apex Legends Developer to Rescue Challenged Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement 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 description explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as production continues.