2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that change every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
The game does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect further news as creation advances.
