2K Recruits Popular Battle Royale Lead to Rescue Struggling Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.