The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback
Brinkman assumes 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 underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.
The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic 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 motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling 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 match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production continues.
