🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee 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' disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as production continues.