The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Mixed Reception
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete content from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."
The game does not have an official release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation advances.
