The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.
The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
The game does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as production advances.
