The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our fans.
The trust in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as development continues.
