🔗 Share this article

2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the full text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution 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 reads. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production advances.