The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer game identity.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up 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 am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he starts with us on next week.
His leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective 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 live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as development progresses.
