The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Reception
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our players.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development progresses.
