The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he starts with us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production advances.
