2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete message from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.
The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development advances.
