🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined game identity.

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

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation advances.