The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined direction.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire content from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"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 explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as development advances.
