🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After a period of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as development advances.