The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear 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 progressed. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the time to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
The game lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development continues.
