The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Mixed Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement 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 official summary states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation continues.
