The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of the game in the time to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as production advances.
