The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as development continues.
