2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire message from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our audience.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the months to come.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 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 live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
The game does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect more updates as creation progresses.
