🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.