The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined direction.
The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production progresses.
