2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined game identity.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.
Here is the full message from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement 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 match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an announced release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation advances.
