2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a sharper identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.
His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
The game lacks an official launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as production progresses.
