The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but fans can anticipate more updates as production advances.
