The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full text from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production advances.
