The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Follows Mixed Reception
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.
Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."
"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 official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as production continues.
