2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.
The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following some time of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."
The game lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation advances.
