The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure 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 strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined vision.
The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward 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 match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can secure victory? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production progresses.
