The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct vision.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His management and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
The game lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production continues.
