🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer 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 games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as development continues.