The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct vision.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated 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.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 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 real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development progresses.
