🔗 Share this article 2K Hires Apex Legends Developer to Boost Troubled Hero Shooter Project Ethos 2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game. Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn. Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct direction. Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations. Trend of Strategic Hires This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group. Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo: Dear Team— I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.” With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that. The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision. It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our fans. The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. Following a period of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20. His guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the recent years developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit. Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of the game in the months to follow. The President Experience of the New Head Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts. Title Details and Concept The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The decision is in your hands." The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as creation continues.