🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.

The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development advances.