The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he starts with us on next week.
His leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of the game in the time to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
The game lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation advances.
