The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct vision.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement 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 suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but players can anticipate further news as production advances.
