The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Poor Response
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.
His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.
