2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Lukewarm Response
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as production advances.
