2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After several months of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the development of the game in the months to follow.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an official release date or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as development advances.
