The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following several months of talks, he starts with us on next week.
Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or platforms, but players can expect additional details as development progresses.
