The Gaming Giant Hires Apex Legends Lead to Rescue Troubled Action Game Ambitious Title

The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience 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 fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an official release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation advances.