2K Hires Popular Battle Royale Producer to Boost Struggling Action Game Ambitious Title

2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

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

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production continues.