The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
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 disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.
The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as production continues.
