The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full content from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can look forward to further news as production continues.
