The Gaming Giant Recruits Popular Battle Royale Producer to Rescue Struggling Action Game Ambitious Title

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

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 autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.

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

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation progresses.