🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as creation continues.