2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full content from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as creation advances.
