The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined vision.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full message from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement 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 description explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
The game has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can expect more updates as production continues.
