The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Mixed Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined game identity.
The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire text from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.
His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the style."
"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 description states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
The game does not have an official release date or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as development continues.
