The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.
The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."
"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 game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect additional details as production progresses.
