2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Mixed Feedback
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.
The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I know 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 group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our players.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of the game in the time to follow.
David
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as production progresses.
