🔗 Share this article

2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into 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 underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire content from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.