The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the development of the game in the months to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as creation continues.
