The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.
The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After some time of talks, he starts with us on next week.
His guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 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! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as production continues.
