2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire message from the president's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
The game does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.
