The Gaming Giant Recruits Apex Legends Producer to Rescue Struggling Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as development continues.