2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Follows Poor Response
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a renewed direction - 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 am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as production continues.
