The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Mixed Reception
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.
The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full content from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Face the competition with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development advances.
