2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee 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 Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading 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 looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."
"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 unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation continues.
