The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Poor Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from the president's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or platforms, but fans can expect further news as creation advances.
