The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer direction.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full message from the president's memo:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent 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 chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he starts with us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but players can expect additional details as creation advances.
