🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.