The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Poor Response
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.
The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
The President
Background of the New Head
The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
The game does not have an official release date or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as production continues.
