2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire content from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our fans.
The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he starts with us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of the game in the months to follow.
The President
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and tests that change every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
The game does not have an official launch window or platforms, but players can expect further news as production advances.
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