🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee 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 Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:

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 note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as development advances.