The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.
Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete content from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.
The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as development continues.
