🔗 Share this article

2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience 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 reads. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate further news as production advances.