2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Poor Response
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go 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 official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.
The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.
His leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as 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 eager to keep seeing the development of the game in the months to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation continues.
