The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Poor Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.
The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of the game in the months to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development continues.
