2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Poor Response
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct direction.
The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Below is the entire message from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. After several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Experience of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
The game has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as production advances.
