2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete text from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of the game in the months to follow.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
The game lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as production continues.
