2K Hires Popular Battle Royale Producer to Rescue Struggling Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment 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.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

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

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation progresses.