2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. 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 talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but players can expect additional details as creation continues.
