2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Poor Reception
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation continues.
