2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Mixed Reception
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.
The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
The game lacks an official release date or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as development continues.
