The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Mixed Response
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined vision.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After some time of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of the game in the months to come.
David
Background of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is yours."
The game does not have an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development progresses.
