2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Reception
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct vision.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Below is the entire message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our fans.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can expect further news as development progresses.
