2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production continues.
