2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the months to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."
"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 official summary explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as creation continues.
