2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete content from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His management and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that change every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."
The game lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production continues.
