2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games 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 Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.
The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
The President
Background of the New Head
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development advances.
