🔗 Share this article

2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Poor Response

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' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

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

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect further news as production advances.