2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment 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 Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.
The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all eager to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect further news as creation continues.
