The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Poor Reception
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 Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.
The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development advances.
