🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all eager to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution 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. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as creation continues.