The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Mixed Response
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.
The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
The news echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.
His management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of the game in the time to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling 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. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as production advances.
