2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."
"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 description reads. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
The game lacks an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as production advances.
