2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined direction.
Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as creation continues.
