2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Background of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."
"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 reads. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate more updates as creation continues.
