The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Mixed Response
The new appointee 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 the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer vision.
The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman 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 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."
"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 official summary reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The option is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation continues.
