🔗 Share this article

2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of the game in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or platforms, but players can expect further news as production advances.