The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Poor Reception
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the full content from the president's memo:
Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement 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 match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
The game does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect further news as development advances.
