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

The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer direction.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"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 official summary explains. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development progresses.