🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of the game in the months to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as development progresses.