The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback
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 disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.
The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development continues.
