The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
The game lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as production continues.
