2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Response
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.
Ismailer stated that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete content from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time 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 developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our players.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, he starts with us on next week.
His management and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or consoles, but fans can expect further news as production progresses.
