The Gaming Giant Recruits Popular Battle Royale Developer to Revitalize Challenged Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation continues.