The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee 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 the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct vision.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can secure victory? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development advances.
