The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full text from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His management and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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 live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."
The game lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development advances.
