2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.
The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire content from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation advances.
