2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete message from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our fans.
The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of the game in the time to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"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 description reads. "Take on the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production continues.
