The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement 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 description reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as development progresses.
