🔗 Share this article

2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can expect additional details as production continues.