2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Reception
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as creation progresses.
