2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception
The new appointee steps into 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.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete content from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.
The belief in this project increases every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"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 description reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as development continues.