2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full message from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as production continues.
