The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Reception
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct direction.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.
David
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
The game has not yet received an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can anticipate further news as production progresses.
