2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Mixed Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct vision.
The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete content from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling 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 suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or consoles, but fans can anticipate further news as production continues.
