The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of the game in the weeks to come.
David
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
The game lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as creation progresses.
