2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete message from the president's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as development continues.
