🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of the game in the months to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect more updates as creation advances.