2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete content from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of the game in the time to come.
The President
Experience of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."
"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 game's pitch explains. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
The game does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as production progresses.
