The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Mixed Reception
The new appointee 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 initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.
The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
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 message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person 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 real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an official release date or platforms, but players can expect further news as development continues.
