2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full content from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."
"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 description states. "Face the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."
The game lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as creation advances.
