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 forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head 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 unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text 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 recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can anticipate more updates as production advances.
