2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.
The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
The game does not have an official launch window or consoles, but fans can anticipate more updates as development progresses.
