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 upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined vision.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative 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 match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production advances.
