The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the development of the game in the time to come.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."
The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can anticipate more updates as development continues.
