The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift 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 Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Key Hires
The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
The trust in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting 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 opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation continues.
