2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following a period of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement 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 fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
The game lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production progresses.
