2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Response
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full text from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - 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 believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.
