2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined game identity.
The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete content from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as creation continues.
