🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up 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 driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.