The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Response
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following a period of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to further news as production continues.
