🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development continues.