2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete message from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After several months of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as production advances.
