2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Head
The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"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 official summary states. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
The game does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as development advances.
