The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.
The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and tests that change every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
The game has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.
