The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Poor Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined direction.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.
Here is the full text from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After a period of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of the game in the months to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate more updates as production continues.
