The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Mixed Response
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct vision.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete message from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."
The game does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as development continues.
