2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Poor Response
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.
Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete text from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the development of the game in the time to follow.
David
Background of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an official release date or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.
