The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer vision.
The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete message from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our players.
The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
The game lacks an official release date or consoles, but players can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.
