The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.
The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."
"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 official summary reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can expect further news as production progresses.
