The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman 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 this innovative game.
Management Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.
The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."
"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 description states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can expect further news as creation advances.
