2K Brings Onboard Apex Legends Developer to Boost Troubled Action Game Project Ethos

2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head 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 lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all eager to persist observing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect further news as development progresses.

Aaron Baird
Aaron Baird

A tech enthusiast and digital strategist with over a decade of experience in analyzing emerging technologies and their impact on society.