2K Hires Popular Battle Royale Producer to Rescue Troubled Action Game Project Ethos

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.