The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.
Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After a period of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.
David
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation continues.
