The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Response
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete message from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."
"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 description reads. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development continues.
