The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm 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 disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to 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 trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His management and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative 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. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as creation continues.
