The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he starts with us on next week.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of the game in the months to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as production progresses.
