2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that change every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
The game does not have an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation advances.
