2K Brings Onboard Apex Legends Producer to Rescue Challenged Action Game Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

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